Prosecutor Kim Seo-Jin - Chapter 247
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Their Story (1)
Kim Young-jun couldn’t utter a single word. He could only stare at Seo Jin with trembling eyes, his lips quivering.
“Do you really think you’ve won?”
Seo Jin’s cold gaze fixed on Kim Young-jun’s hand. The fist that had been clenched tightly was slowly uncurling. Even he could feel it was over. Yet he continued to struggle. Seo Jin smiled bleakly and spoke.
“Remember this. It’s not about winning or losing. You committed crimes, and now you’re paying the price for them. Since everything is finished, accept it and repent.”
“No, no! It’s not over yet!”
Kim Young-jun was losing his mind. His attempt to kill his nephew had been exposed, and the world now knew he had murdered his parents.
“It’s not over!”
There was no need to listen to more nonsense. Seo Jin slowly rose to his feet. He handed the phone in his hand to the court officer, then bowed slowly toward the judge. Then he turned away.
“Damn it, where are you going!”
At the same moment, the sound of “crash!” echoed through the courtroom as the court officer dragged Kim Young-jun away.
“Let go! Release me! I’m Kim Young-jun!”
Kim Young-jun’s voice grew gradually distant in Seo Jin’s ears.
Seo Jin walked toward the exit of the courtroom. He knew his father was sitting in the gallery, but he deliberately avoided looking his way.
In any case, Kim Young-jun was his father’s brother. And Seo Jin was the prosecutor who had caught that brother and utterly destroyed him.
Seo Jin’s true nature was that of Prosecutor Seo Jun-kyung—raised without family or siblings, yet able to understand somewhat the heart of an older brother betrayed by his younger sibling. For that reason, he lacked the courage to face his father now.
But a familiar shadow appeared before Seo Jin. As he slowly raised his gaze, he saw his father, Kim Jun-man.
His father looked at him silently. Then he gently patted Seo Jin’s shoulder. Still without a word. But the meaning was unmistakable.
His father too had sat in this courtroom and heard that his brother had tried to kill his own son. He had witnessed his son working tirelessly in secret to apprehend Kim Young-jun. The weight of those emotions was devastating.
His father’s hand, which had been patting Seo Jin’s shoulder, stilled. Then, gripping that shoulder gently, his father offered a faint smile.
“You haven’t eaten, have you? I’m hungry. Let’s go get something to eat.”
His father stroked Seo Jin’s back and led him out of the courtroom.
From far away, Kim Young-jun’s voice could still be heard.
“Let go!”
*
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*
Seo Jin and his father went to a soup restaurant near the courthouse.
Until the soup arrived at their table, Seo Jin and his father exchanged no words. They simply gazed at each other in silence.
When the soup was served, his father set down a spoon in front of Seo Jin and opened his mouth.
“May I bring up something heavy before we eat?”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
Seo Jin assumed his father would speak about Kim Young-jun or his own parents. But what came from his father’s lips was something entirely different.
“Quit being a prosecutor and come work at the company.”
“…What?”
Seo Jin blinked at the unexpected words. His father continued speaking without meeting his eyes.
“I don’t know much about the prosecution organization, but I hear that when you catch powerful figures, politicians and such become uncomfortable. I don’t want to see my son exiled, so come learn the business.”
“…”
“I’m at an age where I should retire soon. And Jin-young is busy cooking, so…”
As Seo Jin absorbed his father’s words, he quietly picked up a spoon.
As I apprehended the monster known as Kim Young-jun, new paths were unfolding before me.
Former Congressman Gong Dae-chul spoke of a life in politics. He said he would secure my nomination in the Ruling Party’s stronghold, encouraging me to change the world as a young member of the National Assembly.
And my father showed me the future of a businessman. Starting with the Legal Team, I would accumulate various experiences and expand Jaejeong Construction, which he had built, into something even greater.
But it didn’t end there. Not long ago, Do Gwang-hyun had said something.
“Do you know how much money you have in total? You could spend lavishly your entire life and still not exhaust it all by the time you die. So why not stop doing difficult work now and enjoy the simple pleasures of life?”
It was only brief, but my mind churned with conflicting thoughts. I opened my mouth to my father.
“I’ll think about it.”
*
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-Kim Young-jun screamed and caused a disturbance. The trial was adjourned repeatedly, and….
The channel switched, but the story remained about Kim Young-jun.
-It has been confirmed as fact that Kim Young-jun murdered his parents. Although the statute of limitations has expired, the Special Prosecution Team stated that the truth must be revealed to sound an alarm for society….
The media was saturated with stories about Kim Young-jun.
-The connection between Kim Young-jun and Congressman Baek Ki-ho has been exposed. Kim Young-jun decided to indict Former Congressman Gong Dae-chul to support Congressman Baek Ki-ho’s candidacy….
The comments were in chaos.
-I expect over 30 years.
└Isn’t this the death penalty?
└It’s the death penalty. He killed his parents and tried to kill his nephew too.
-But can Seo Jin continue as a prosecutor?
└I doubt it. No matter what, his uncle is Kim Young-jun.
└What does Kim Young-jun have to do with it? He never used the prosecutor general’s authority. Look at what he’s shown so far.
└I think he can’t. Even if he stays in the Prosecutor’s Office, he’ll probably be ostracized there.
└Surely…. Would people who studied so much do something so childish?
└Just quit and become a movie actor.
*
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A prosecution van came to a stop in front of Congressman Baek Ki-ho’s office. The door opened, and Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk and Lee So-hee stepped out.
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk opened his mouth as he looked at Lee So-hee.
“Go ahead.”
“What about you, Prosecutor?”
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk recalled my voice as he looked at Lee So-hee’s face.
“Please leave Baek Ki-ho’s final arrest to Lee So-hee. I’m asking this favor of you.”
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk shrugged his shoulders.
“I’ll be finding a smoking area and having a cigarette, so go and bring him in.”
Lee So-hee’s eyes grew distant in thought for a moment before she gave a slight bow.
“Thank you.”
With those words, Lee So-hee entered the building with the investigators.
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk watched her retreating figure for a moment, then leaned against the vehicle and gazed up at the sky.
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk didn’t know the relationship between Lee So-hee and Congressman Baek Ki-ho. But based on what Seo Jin had told him, he could only infer that there was some deep-seated enmity between them. Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk muttered to himself.
“What other grudge do you have with them?”
*
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At that moment, Congressman Baek Ki-ho stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing out the window. He knew the Prosecutor’s Office was coming. Yet his eyes remained surprisingly composed.
Then he heard the sound of the door opening behind him. Without turning around, Congressman Baek Ki-ho muttered to himself.
“The world seen from a tall building has always been something I wanted to grasp. But now it’s become something I can never have. Since I think this is the last time, I’d like to look at it for a moment—would you give me time for just one cigarette?”
Congressman Baek Ki-ho leisurely pulled a cigarette from his pocket and placed it between his lips. Then a familiar voice reached his ears.
“This is a non-smoking building. And it smells, so don’t smoke.”
It was Lee So-hee. Congressman Baek Ki-ho hadn’t expected her to appear here. His eyes widened as he slowly turned his gaze. Seeing Lee So-hee standing alone before him, he placed the cigarette he held in his mouth.
“I’m sorry for calling it a mistake.”
“….”
“I’ve given you nothing, but I want to make you this promise. The fact that you are my daughter—I will take that secret to my grave. Live happily.”
The moment Congressman Baek Ki-ho finished those words and lit his cigarette, a cold voice flowed from Lee So-hee’s lips.
“I told you not to smoke. You’ll have to pay a fine too.”
“…!”
The door burst open roughly and investigators rushed in. As they seized Congressman Baek Ki-ho with forceful hands, the cigarette he was about to light fell to the floor. Congressman Baek Ki-ho stared at them with startled eyes.
“What, what are you doing!”
Lee So-hee stepped forward and spoke.
“I really hate seeing criminals like you act like big shots, acting all composed.”
“Lee, Lee So-hee!”
“Baek Ki-ho, you are under arrest on charges of bribery and obstruction of justice, among other offenses.”
“Hey!”
“You have the right to retain counsel, the right to make a statement, and the right to petition the court for a hearing on the legality of your arrest and detention.”
“This is absurd!”
Congressman Baek Ki-ho examined Lee So-hee with bewildered eyes, but she didn’t meet his gaze and turned her eyes toward the investigators instead.
“Take him away.”
The investigators dragged Congressman Baek Ki-ho out.
“Let go! I’ll walk on my own!”
Congressman Baek Ki-ho struggled desperately to break free, but they dragged him out even more forcefully.
“You bastards!”
And so Congressman Baek Ki-ho’s voice faded into the distance, and the commotion was brief. The spacious office fell silent as if nothing had happened. Lee So-hee stood alone in that vast space.
Lee So-hee walked toward Congressman Baek Ki-ho’s desk. Her small hand reached for the nameplate that read “Congressman Baek Ki-ho.”
‘Just this….’
Baek Ki-ho had lived like a beast just to obtain this nameplate. And then, coveting what came after it, he had fallen.
As Lee So-hee sighed and shook her head, her phone vibrated. The caller ID showed it was her mother.
Lee So-hee hesitated for a moment while holding the vibrating phone, then pressed the answer button and brought it to her ear.
“Mom, it’s all over now.”
-….
“So, let’s be happy together from now on. I’ll be a good daughter to you.”
Lee So-hee pressed the end button and tossed Congressman Baek’s nameplate, which she’d been holding, into the trash without hesitation. Then she walked out of the office without a second thought.
*
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“I’m about to head out now.”
-Take your time. You’re the main character, so no one can say anything even if you’re late.
It was the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.
Seo Jin had tidied his desk, slung his bag over his shoulder, and was stepping out of his office.
The person on the call was former Congressman Gong Dae-chul.
“Still, I should hurry.”
-It’s fine, I’m telling you.
The world was in chaos following the downfall of Kim Young-jun and Congressman Baek, but the Ruling Party was in a festive mood.
There was a strong consensus that the Ruling Party had given up on this presidential election. Congressman Baek’s approval rating had surpassed fifty percent, and there was no way to stop the sweeping tide. So the Ruling Party simply waited for the presidential election that was certain to be a defeat.
-But thanks to you, a miracle happened.
Former Congressman Gong’s voice was delighted. A reversal had occurred as Kim Young-jun and then Congressman Baek were arrested.
Opposition Party supporters had given up on voting, while Ruling Party supporters had rallied. Thanks to that, the Ruling Party’s candidate was now certain to be the next president.
People were now saying that even an elementary school student could tell who would become president without even holding the election.
-Of course, you’re the greatest contributor to all of this.
So former Congressman Gong and many politicians from the Ruling Party had prepared a gathering to express their gratitude to Seo Jin.
The powerful figures who controlled South Korea were waiting for the young Seo Jin. Some might feel nervous or excited in such a situation, but Seo Jin’s voice remained calm.
“I’ll be there shortly.”
Seo Jin got in his car and headed to the dinner gathering. The venue was a Korean BBQ restaurant in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province.
It was a place where politicians frequently gathered, and they had reserved the entire third floor.
Shortly after, Seo Jin’s vehicle pulled into a parking lot filled with luxury cars.
As Seo Jin stepped out and adjusted his clothes, a Chief of Staff appeared beside him. The Chief of Staff opened his mouth with a friendly smile.
“You must be Prosecutor Seo Jin, correct? Everyone is waiting for you.”
Seo Jin walked alongside the Chief of Staff, gazing at the Korean BBQ restaurant packed with politicians.
But his eyes were sharp and piercing. It wasn’t as though he were going to a dinner gathering—it was as though he were heading out to hunt.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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